HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Late inning heroics by both the Coker Lady Cobras and the Wingate Bulldogs led to wins for both ball clubs, as the pair split their season opening double-header on Sunday afternoon in college softball action. Coker took game one by a score of 1-0 thanks to a RBI single by Haleigh Rogers (Ward, S.C.) in the bottom of the sixth, while Wingate’s Brittany Barrineau broke up a 4-4 tie with a three run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Bulldogs the 7-4 win in game two.

After the first day of play for both teams, they both walk away with 1-1 records to begin the 2010 season.

GAME ONE

In the first game it looked as if Wingate was on pace to take home the win, as they out hit the Lady Cobras nine to three, but solid Coker defense and timely hitting would make the difference, as Rogers drove a single down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth to plate Julia Nelson-Abbott (Evans, Ga.) and give the Lady Cobras the 1-0 lead and eventual win.

Sydney Greenwalt (Edwardsville, Ill.) (1-0) earned the win scattering nine hits over seven innings, with four strikeouts, while Brittany Blankenship (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings on the mound.

Rogers, Anna Oswald (Lexington, S.C.) and Kayla Jacobs (Bolton, N.C.) each had a hit, while Rogers picking up the game winning RBI.

For Wingate, Jessica McCraw, Leyila Myers and Barrineau each had two hits, with one of Myers hits being a double.

GAME TWO

The second was all Coker in the early innings, as the Lady Cobras plated four runs in the first four innings, but two runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth by Wingate quickly tied the game at four runs apiece. Then in the top of the seventh Barrineau gave the Bulldogs offense a nice boost, in the form of a three run bomb over the left center fence to put Wingate on top 7-4. Coker was unable to mount any kind of comeback in the bottom half of the inning and the Bulldogs held on for the win.

Greenwalt (1-1) took the loss, coming on in relief for starter Beck Dillon (West Palm Beach, Fla.). She allowed five runs on five hits with three strikeouts in three innings of work. Allison Smith (1-) earned the win for the Bulldogs, tossing a complete game, allowing four runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts.

Brittany Owens (Johnsonville, S.C.) led the Lady Cobras going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Rogers and Miranda Klees (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) each had doubles, with Klees scoring two runs and Rogers scoring one.

Barrineau finished the game 1-for-3 with a home run three RBIs and a run scored, while Debra Grijalva was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Brittany Loudermilt had a double and an RBI also for Wingate.

Coker returns to action on Wednesday, February 17, when they host Johnson C. Smith in a non-conference double-header starting at 2:00 p.m.